Ohio police agency’s gun gift card raffle draws criticism

CAMPBELL, Ohio (AP) — A northeast Ohio police department has drawn criticism from some gun-control advocates for its plan to raffle gift cards for guns to raise money to replace its injured police dog.

Campbell police Officer Eric Manning tells The Vindicator in Youngstown (http://bit.ly/2gc8voQ ) that the three winners of the raffle still would have to pass a background check and meet standard regulations to get the guns.

The gift cards are for amounts equivalent to the cost of the guns advertised as the prizes. Winners would have the option of buying other hunting, fishing or camping gear from the same store instead.

Manning says having the gift cards as the prize allows people who are restricted from buying firearms to participate in the Dec. 4 fundraiser.